Executive Team
Beth Kohl - Executive Director and Founder, Survivor Rowing Network. Executive Director and Board President, Rowing Cares
Beth leads Rowing Cares and the Survivor Rowing Network with a deep commitment to bringing the rowing and cancer communities together. Through the power of rowing, she helps empower cancer patients and survivors to rediscover strength, confidence, and connection. With more than 35 years of global leadership experience, Beth has guided organizations across strategy, marketing, and communications, including work with Omnicom Group, General Motors, AT&T, and USRowing, and partnerships with Susan G. Komen and the American Cancer Society. Based in New York and London, she is known for her collaborative leadership and passion for building strong, mission-driven teams.
Tara Hoffman - SRN Volunteer Program Director and Executive Director, Recovery on Water
Tara Hoffmann first came to the organization as an athlete shortly after her own breast cancer diagnosis. She found the challenge, focus and friendship of ROW life-changing, and saw the depth of impact that rowing as part of a team could have building athletes out of patients and empowering survivors to take control of their wellness with purpose.
Hoffmann is a certified rowing coach experienced in program development, and informed by the specific needs of and benefits to a survivor athlete population.
ROW sets the global gold medal standard in Survivor Rowing.
Dr. Karen Blessey - SRN Volunteer Medical Director and Founder, Survivor Rowing Program NOLA
Dr. Karen Blessey is a breast cancer survivor and an award-winning Internal Medicine physician in New Orleans. She is a member of the Board of Directors for the largest health system in the Gulf South, Ochsner Health. She serves as Ochsner’s System Medical Director of Physician Recruiting where her effective efforts led to substantial physician growth. During medical school, she created a medical student-run, free summer camp for medically disabled children, which continues today. Dr. Blessey founded Survivor Rowing Program NOLA, inspiring breast cancer survivors to attain their exercise goals and reduce their risk of cancer recurrence through the sport of rowing.